(4) Psalm 16:10 | Hell | Sheol|(4) Isaiah 38:10 | Grave| Sheol|
(5) Psalm 18:5 | Hell | Sheol|(5) Isaiah 38:18 | Grave| Sheol|
(6) Psalm 86:13 | Hell | Sheol|(6) Proverbs 1:12 | Grave| Sheol|
(7) Psalm 116:3 | Hell | Sheol|
(8) Isaiah 5:14 | Hell | Sheol|
(9) Isaiah 14:15 | Hell | Sheol|
(10) Isaiah 28:15 | Hell | Sheol|
(11) Isaiah 28:18 | Hell | Sheol|
(12) Isaiah 57:9 | Hell | Sheol|
(13) Jonah 2:2 | Hell | Sheol|
The New King James Version removes much of the foundation on which the belief in Hell was built, and the American Standard Version and most others removed the foundation completely from the Old Testament, but the belief now still stands without it.
After looking at the sixty-five passages where sheol is used in the Old Testament, there is only one conclusion that we can come to, death really is death for both the good and the evil, and there is no life for anyone, or any immortal something in anyone before the resurrection.
· There is no hint of an eternal life of torment after death, or after the judgment in any of the sixty-five passages.
· The Old Testament does not contain today's concept of Hell.
· There is no word in the Old Testament Hebrew that even comes close to the meaning that Hell has today.
Two definitions:
1. Webster's New World Dictionary, "A place in the ground where a dead body is buried. Any place where a dead body is laid or comes to rest."
2. Today's theology, "A place where the living that can never be dead are tormented forever by Satan or by God."
How did the translators get two words, grave, and Hell, with such a vast difference in meaning from the same Hebrew word? It is as if the same word (sheol) means "white" in thirty-four passage and "black" in thirty-one passages. To mistranslate the way the King James translators did is not only a bad translation, it is sinful to so misuse God's word, both sinful for the translators and sinful for those who know it is wrong, but use it anyway and do not speak out about what they know to be wrong. What will they say to God at the judgment?
L. Ray Smith: "I do not even contend that this is bad scholarship. This is NO scholarship at all. This is nothing less than FRAUD-a Christian HOAX! Show me where else in historic academia we find such reckless abandonment of the facts? I am not contending for my personal preference in translating the scriptures, but to merely translate accurately and consistently what we find in all the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts."
Often, the person who teaches sheol is somewhere beneath the surface of the earth, and the souls of all the dead all to sheol, will at other times teach all souls go to Heaven or Hell when the person dies. The Old Testament teaching of all the dead being asleep in sheol, the grave is in direct contradiction to today's teaching of all souls going directly to Heaven at death, yet many teach both depending, I guess on what their needs are at any given time, but most seem to be unaware of what they are doing, unaware that they are changing back and forth between the two contradictory teachings.
The English "Hell" of today ------- versus - sheol of the Old Testament
A place of remorse and suffering -- versus -"forgetfulness" Ps 88:11-12
A place of endless fire ----------- versus -"darkness" Job 10:21
Of torment with shrieks and groans -versus -"silence" Psalm 115:17
AN EXAMPLE OF THE CONFUSION
THAT EXIST ON WHERE THE DEAD ARE
Roger E Dickson, on page 69 of “Life, death and Beyond” said, “The word sheol refers to the unseen state of existence where the souls and spirits of the dead are hidden from the living,” and on page 71 he says, “Both righteous and unrighteous are there until the final resurrection.” But on page 64 he said our spirits returns to God and are now present with the Lord in Heaven and when Jesus returns He will bring our spirits from Heaven. Are spirits now in sheol unto the resurrection, or now in Heaven before the resurrection? Many that believe there is now an immortal soul/spirit that is in us have the same confusion on where souls now are.
HADES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT (Used 11 times)
The Greek word hades in the New Testament corresponds to sheol in the Old Testament. Hades is used in the Septuagint Version, a translation of the Old Testament into Greek, sixty of the sixty-five times where sheol is used. It is used in the New Testament when the Old Testament is quoted (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27). Hades does not have any reference to a soul being in anyone in any of the eleven passages where it is used. Nor does hades have any reference to torment in Hell. An examination of every passage where hades is used in the New Testament shows that not one of them says anything about everlasting conscious torment, or of eternal punishment. Not a one of them says anything about what will be after the Judgment Day. Hades is to be emptied at the resurrection at the second coming of Christ; therefore, it is only temporary, and it could not be an eternal place where God will torment all the souls that were in the lost without end as it is in the King James Version.
· Hades used with reference to the death of Christ (3 passages)
· Hades used with reference to death (1 passage)
· Hades used with reference to the destruction of cities or nations (2 passages)
· Hades in the symbolic passages (5 passages)
Hades in the three passages
That has reference to the death of Christ
(1) Matthew 16:18 "And I say also unto you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church: and the gates of Hell (the grave-hades) shall not prevail against it." "And the gates of hades shall not prevail against it" New King James Version. The grave is pictured as a fortified city with gates as many cities at that time had; the believers were told pray that their flight be not on a Sabbath for then the gates of the city would be closed and would hold them in (Matthew 24:20). The fortified gates of death were unable to hold Christ in the grave, and will be unable to hold the dead in Christ, they will be resurrected and have the victory over death. Death and the grave will “not prevail against it” – the church, which is all that are in Christ. Only the church, those who are in Christ will not suffer the second death, the gates of hades will not prevail against Christians.
"Death shall neither destroy the organic church which is in the world, nor the members thereof which go down into the grave." J. W. McGarvey, The Fourfold Gospel, Standard Publishing Company, page 412.
Which translation do you believe? There is no way that both could be right. According to today's theology Hell and hades are two entirely different places, but these two translations are in conflict with each other on the place all through the New Testament.
(2) Acts 2:27 "Because you will not leave my soul in Hell (the grave-hades), neither will you suffer your Holy One to see corruption." Hades is the Greek translation of the Hebrew sheol. In Acts 2:27, hades is a translation of sheol from Psalm 16:10. Only the King James Version translates hades into Hell. Most translations, even the New King James Version, have not translated hades into Hell. Many would not translate it; therefore, left the Greek word untranslated in the English translation. This does not help the English reader who does not know Greek; but it was left not translated in many versions of the Bible because those who believe the soul is immortal and believe in Hell do not want neither sheol in the Old Testament, or hades in the New Testament to be translated.
· In Acts 2:29 “tomb” is used as a synonym to “hades” in verse 27. “Sepulcher” in King James Version.
(3) Acts 2:31 "He seeing this before spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in Hell (the grave-hades); neither his flesh did see corruption." "That His soul was not left in hades" New King James Version. This is a quotation of Psalm 16:10. If His soul (Hebrew-nehphesh--Greek-psukee) "was not left in hades (the grave)," then His soul, the part of Him that cannot die according to those who say the soul is immortal, was in the grave (hades), if not, it could not have been left in the grave or taken out of the grave, if Christ was never in the grave He was never dead; therefore, this passages would makes no sense; if, as the King James Version and many teach, Christ was alive in “Hell” He was never dead and there was no resurrection.
Christ was resurrected and did not see corruption, but David did; David "both died and were buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day" (Acts 2:29). If David were living at this time, and he was not in the tomb then Peter had no point or argument, and what he said had no meaning. "From the day that the fathers fell asleep" 2 Peter 3:4. This shows that David is still asleep, along with all other's that "are fallen asleep" 1 Corinthians 15:6. To say that David is not dead, or he has been raised is to say the resurrection is passed, and Christ was not the "first fruits" 1 Corinthians 15:20, or the "first born" Colossians 1:18, Revelation 1:5. To say that David was never dead is to make his resurrection impossible. Jesus was in His grave until God resurrected Him, and David will be in his grave until the resurrection. David and all who have died except Christ are still in the grave (in sheol-hades), and will be unto the Resurrection.
Hades in the passage
That has reference to death
(4) 1 Corinthians 15:55 "O death (thanatos), where is your sting; O grave (hades), where is your victory?" It is so obvious that a place of torment after death is not what Paul was speaking of that even the King James translators could not translate this into Hell, see Revelation 20:13-14 below. This is the only time in the King James Version that hades is translated grave. The New American Standard and many others translate both "thanatos" and "hades" into "death" only in this passage. "Death (thanatos) is swallowed up in victory. O death (thanatos), where is your victory? O death (hades), where is your sting? The sting of death (thanatos) is sin" (1 Corinthians 15:54-56). "Thanatos" was translated into death in many places, but this is the only time "hades" was translated “death.” Why the inconsistency? Was it not because if death is only separation of a living immortal soul from God, the separated living soul could not be in the grave; if this living soul were in the grave, then it could not be in Hell where many believe it to be.
This is believed by many to be a quote from Hosea 13:14 where the King James Version translated "sheol" into "grave," not "death." "I will ransom them from the power of the grave (sheol); I will redeem them from death; O death, I will be your plagues; O grave (sheol), I will be thy destruction." The whole chapter of Hosea 12 is about the nation of Israel; God redeeming the nation of Israel from captivity, restoring or resurrecting the nation, not individual Jews being resurrected from the grave then or at the second coming of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55 is speaking of the victory over death by individuals that are in Christ at the resurrection. Neither Hosea 13:14 or 1 Corinthians 15:55 does not say anything about endless torment, or what will happen to those who are not saved.
1. Restoring or resurrection of a nation (living Jews) from captivity (Hosea 13:14).
2. Resurrecting to eternal life all individuals that are asleep in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:55).
Hades in the two passages
That has reference to the destruction
of cities or nations
(5) Matthew 11:23 "And you, Capernaum, which are exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to Hell (grave-hades): for if the mighty works, which have been done in you, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day." A city to be brought down to the grave and remain no more just as Sodom did not remain.
(6) Luke 10:15 "And you, Capernaum, which are exalted to heaven, shall be thrust down to Hell (grave-hades)." They were favored more than most cities by seeing and hearing Christ "exalted unto heaven," but because of their unbelief they were brought down to the grave. Capernaum ceased to exalt and was covered by sand of Galilee's seashore, its grave. ). “Shall go down unto Hades (grave),” only the dead go to the grave, these cities died, they did not now exist, they are dead, not alive in Hell. Not even those who believe in Hell believe cities will go to Heaven or Hell, yet they use this passage to prove that the souls that are now in lost individuals will go to Hell at the death of the individual the soul is in just as the King James translators sends Capernaum to Hell. Cities do cease to exalt (brought down to hades-the grave), as both Capernaum and Sodom have been. There is nothing said about eternal torment of cities or nations. Just as Capernaum was never literally in Heaven, neither was it was ever literally in "Hell."
"And you, Capernaum, which are (present tense) exalted to heaven, shall be (future tense) be brought down to the grave." I know of no one who believes Capernaum, was at the time Christ was speaking (present tense), was in Heaven with God, but this city would be (future tense) brought down to Hell to be with Satan, yet this is what this passage says as it is in the King James Version and would have to be saying if it proved "Hell." It was not brought down to Hell or to an subterranean some place under the earth, it was brought down to the grave, a dead city that does not now exist anyplace.
Albert Barnes, who believes in Hell, admits that in this passage Hell does not mean Hell. He said, "This does not mean that all the people should go to hell; but that the city which had flourished so prosperously, should lose its prosperity, and occupy the lowest place among cities. The word hell is used here, not to denote a place of punishment in the future world, but a state of desolation and destruction as a city" Barnes Notes on Matthew 11:23.
Hades in the symbolic passages
(7) Luke 16:23 "And in Hell (grave-hades) he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeing Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom." This is one of the first passages many use to prove there is torment after death. See “The Intermediate Bosom” in chapter eight for notes on this parable.
(8) Revelation 1:18 "I am he that lives and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen: and have the keys of Hell (grave-hades) and of death." Many do not believe Hell will exist unto after the judgment, but they make Him be saying He has the keys to a place that does not yet exist.
What this passage does not and does say:
(9) Revelation 6:8 "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that set on him was Death, and Hell (grave-hades) followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth." This is a symbolic passage of a judgment on this earth where some on this earth was killed.
1. Some on this earth are killed with the sword.
2. Some on this earth are killed with hunger.
3. Some on this earth are killed with death.
4. Some on this earth are killed with beasts of the earth.
But to prove Hell this symbolic passage is taken out of context and made literal, but if it were literal then this killing is moved from earth to Hell, which is believed to be a place of torment after death, then it:
1. Is killing the living before their death by starving to death soul in Hell that cannot die?
2. Is killing souls in Hell with beasts of the earth, which is definitely not what anyone I know of believes. If those in Hell will be killed with the sword and with hunger, how can they be tormented forever?
3. If this were made literal, then death and Hell would have power over only one fourth of mankind. Will the other three fourths live forever without dying and never go to Hell? If so, then they had no need of the death of Christ to save them from death or Hell.
Even for those who believe in Hell, it must be difficult to imagine death literally riding on a horse, and Hell, which is a place literally following the horse; but without badly mistranslating there is nothing about Hell in Revelation 6:8. The New King James Version has hades, not Hell, following death; which do you believe, Hell or hades (grave) was following death?
· A place (Hell) following a horse – would be the same as:
· A place (New York) following a horse – only in symbolic language can a place follow a horse.
o If Hell has all the dead in it, it would be many times larger than New York, which would make it difficult for such a large place to literally be following a horse.
(10) Revelation 20:13 "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and Hell (hades-footnote in King James Version says "the grave") delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works." Will the "Hell" that is taught today give up those who are in it? If made literal, this also would not be today's theology; those in this “Hell” are dead, not alive in torment. This passage makes a distinction between the dead in the sea and the dead in the grave (hades). If hades were a place where all the dead go, the good to one side of hades (Abraham's bosom) and the lost to the other side of hades, all the dead would be in hades and none in the sea. Neither the Catholics or Protestant versions of Hell believe any will be delivered out of Hell, but the way the King James Version is translated it is undeniable that all that are in Hell do come out of Hell when this passage is made literal, and many do make it literal when they are trying to prove Hell is real.
(11) Revelation 20:14 "And death and Hell (grave-hades) were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." Neither is it believed Hell will be cast into the lake of fire; it is believed Hell is the lake of fire. If the Lake of Fire were Hell, then the King James Version would have Hell being cast into Hell, but John says it is death and the grave that are being cast into the lake of fire, not Hell cast into Hell. The grave, not Hell, will deliver up the dead at the coming of Christ. The victory of death over mankind will have ended (See I Corinthians 15:55 above). Most all that use this mistranslation in the King James Version do not believe what the King James Version says, that Hell will deliver up those in it, for if it did their Hell would not be eternal. This mistranslation in the King James Version makes Hell end at the resurrection.
Dr. George Campbell: "It is very (interesting) that neither in the Septuagint version of the Old Testament, nor in the New, does the word hades convey the meaning which the present English word hell, in the Christian usage, always conveys to our minds" Diss. vi, page 181.
A MAJOR DISAGREATEMENT